Old Pulteney 12 Year

Old Pulteney, founded in 1826 - such heritage, much maritime history, with "the taste of the sea in every drop of its liquid gold". No, I'm not quoting Talisker, but I can definitely draw some parallels between the two distilleries and their marketing verbage! Where do I even begin with this 12 Year? The bottle was inspired by the shape of their pot stills which help make the Scotch more fragrant. I can attest to this because, on the nose, I was able to pick up a multitude of aromas - a bit of light smoke/peat here and there, salty shores, some cereal grains, and a touch of sweetness. I was hoping this would translate to the palate and finish, but unfortunately the wind wasn't in its favour. If you set the anchor down on this whisky and gave it a bit of time, you may come across a blend of sea salt, subtle orchard fruits, and baking spices. The finish has similar characteristics - perhaps a little more on the savoury side, but like the setting sun on a horizon, it diminishes quickly. Overall, I wasn't impressed or disappointed with the Old Pulteney 12 Year. It was very easy to drink with zero burn, had moments of flavourful glory, but the finish was very short-lived. I can boast about how aromatic it was, but that was more or less it. Bottled at 40% ABV, it reminded me of a young whisky and simply wasn't potent enough to create a long-lasting impact. If you are hunting for a easy-drinker or beginner's Scotch, this makes a worthy candidate. For a similar age statement but with more flavour and depth, I would look towards something like a Glen Garioch 12 Year. NOSE: Light peat, sea salt, malted barley, cereal grains, poached pears, caramel PALATE: Apples, pears, cinnamon, baking spice, dried cherries, sea salt FINISH: Salt, seaweed, malted barley, light peat, cinnamon Rating: 81/100 Grade: B- Not-too-bad - no major flaws, worth tasting.

Sweet, no peat